Law LLB Personal Statement

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The study of Human Rights is a passion of mine and travelling to Brazil in 2014 to represent Team England in the Street Child World Cup fuelled this passion even more. As a care leaver, I was given the opportunity to travel to Brazil and meet children from the streets of multiple countries. The experiences they shared, including the lack of humanity they are shown in their country, not only brought tears to my eyes but ignited a fire inside of me to do all I could to change these injustices. This is why I believe that Human Rights Law is the perfect fit for me. I believe that all humans should have the right to life, freedom from slavery, the right to education, and all the other rights we are entitled to under the Human Rights Act 1998. As a mature learner, I believe that I have many experiences which have shaped who I am today and who I achieve to be. I know that law is the only degree that will satisfy my hunger to help change the injustices I have seen and heard throughout my experiences.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

When deciding to go back into education, I researched the options available to me which would allow me to study Law at university. Throughout this research, I found information regarding the Access to Higher Education Diploma which greatly intrigued me. The Diploma has not only widened my knowledge in the fields of Law, History, and Politics; it has also taught me many study skills such as how to take notes from lectures properly. In turn, it then enables me to make notes for myself that allow me to understand the topics fully and see the gaps in my knowledge. Therefore, I can then do further external research to fill in these gaps. These are not only important and necessary skills to have at this level, but also at university and in working life as a lawyer. I am working extremely hard to complete the goals I have set forth for myself, which include getting distinctions in my Access to Higher Education Diploma units and in turn gaining a place at your university and not only graduating but graduating with First Class Honours.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

I had the opportunity to partake in Pathways to Law with the Sutton Group and UCL University. During this time, I attended a conference at Warwick University in which I participated in many workshops and seminars. One of the most notable workshops I participated in was the debating workshop in which we were put in teams and given a motion which we either had to argue for or against. Our motion was 'should obese and smokers have limited availability to the NHS', and my team was arguing against this. We ended up winning out of our small group and had the opportunity to argue this on the stage of a large hall in Warwick against the winners of another group. We did not win this debate, however, the opportunity greatly developed my confidence and mooting skills which are integral skills to have when working in the legal field. My participation in Pathways to Law also gave me the opportunity to complete a one-week work experience placement at Clifford Chance LLP. This was a challenging yet extremely enjoyable experience as I was able to attend networking events, during which I was able to talk to and gain insight from people currently in the legal profession. This experience taught me the need for first impressions, how to present yourself, and the questions you should and should not ask. Getting pregnant at eighteen meant that going to university was not possible for me at the time, however, now as a mother of a one-year-old child, I now have the motivation and determination to follow my newly founded plan. I am not only doing this for myself, but also for my daughter; so she can have the best upbringing I can give her and most importantly, so I can make a change to the world that every child will have to grow up in.